By Loren Brooks

Fishing in different places has it’s advantages when venturing out on Lake Mead. Stories last week about the Overton Beach arm would lead many watermen to that location.

But what about Friday April 27, 2012? Well, the top story is about our friends, Wayne Beard, his wife, Jerrine, and David Hartshorne, whom we met at the cleaning table at Echo Bay. Guess what? They fished Echo Bay and trolled with anchovies and caught 60 striper by early afternoon.

Wayne claimed Jerrine had to be dragged off the lake, because they were still striking.

Location, Location, Location. Time of Day, Time of Day, and, oh, by the way, Time of Day.

It was a beautiful Friday for all of us. For a moment we thought we were visited by Mary Poppins. We were in 20 feet of water catching Striper on the “Rattle Trap”, which is made by Rapalla Lures. The lure is something like a “Wiggle Wart”, with plenty of action on mono-filament line.

We had just netted a three pound striper, and were very careful to remove the hooks without personal injury. I mention the word “careful” because last week I got a hook through the index finger, which required pushing the hook on out the other side in order to clip off the barb. Always carry a set of good “dykes” in the boat in case you get snagged in the hand by a hook. The hook is a dangerous weapon when still in the fish.

Well, anyway, it seemed like MARY POPPINS showed up at this moment with her umbrella, floating in the sky.. To explain, we use a large picnic umbrella on my boat, in addition to the bimini, for protection from the sun. A gust of wind, which must have been 36 mph, came out of nowhere and sent our umbrella sky high and into the drink about 10 yards behind the boat. We were flabbergasted. It floated for about 20 seconds, and then tipped on it’s side. Down it went with “MARY POPPINS”.

We tried to snag it with hook and line with negative results. One of these days someone is going to wonder what happened when they find this huge umbrella washed up on the beach, or hooked on their line, like a sea monster.

Captain’s error on the part of yours truly, who failed to put a tie down on this piece of shade.

What a day! Bud and Alan had a great day, using the 128 Lucky Craft. But the top story is Wayne, Jerrine, and Dave. It is their record catch this year.

So long for a while. See you in October.

Keep your lures in the water, the waters of life.